Method of and apparatus for generating electricity.



B. SGHWERIN. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 12, 1909.

972,029, Patented 0011.4, 1910.

' very tion I shall first UNITED strATEs PAT NT OFFICE.

orne SCHW'EBIN', or rnanxroar-on-rnnusin, GERMANY.

Be it known that I, BOTHO SCHWERIN, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, have invented certain new rovements. in Methods of and Apparatus or Generating Electricity, of which the following is a specification.

. My invention relates to im rovements in a method of and apparatus electricity, and more particularly to that method and a paratus, in which electricity is generated; y means'of liquids flowing over solid bodies. And the object of the improvements is to rovide a method and an apparatus, where y high electromotive forces can be produced.

My invention is based on the discove that the electromotive forces produced 1n apparatusof this class-can be lncreased by increasing the conductivity of the solid bodies and of the l'quid by means of certain electrolytes, while other electrolytes have the tendency to decrease the electromotive forces. Furthermore, experiments have shown,"that the electromotive force is increased when increasing the pressure of the liquid forcedover the solid bodies, and in this respect, I

have found, that the-electromotive force is plroportional to the pressure of the liquid; the

y experiments'have also shown, that electromotive forces are increased when making the passages for the liquid as fine as possible, for which purpose the said bodies are preferably used in the form of a fine powder. And finally, I have found, that in some cases the electromotive force is increased, when using the same liquid in a continuous circuit.

For the purpose of explaining the invendescribe an apparatus embodying the same. The said apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which the figure is a vertical cross-section of the apparatus.

Referring to the example illustrated in the drawin s, my improved apparatus con sists of a layerv b of 50 at 1I OI1 ring a covered with a vulcanized caoutchouc, which at its bottom is closed by a filtering element secured thereto by screws or in another suitable way.- The said filtering element consists of a brass plate c-provided with fine apertures, of a wire netting 03 placed over the latter, of a piece of tightly woven silk e providing the filter proper, and of a very and useful Im-- a and or generating is continuously used over "METHOD or "Ann APPARATUS Fen. GENERATING ELECTRICITY.

Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

fine wire netting f rovidin one of the electr1c poles. Upon t e latter l'place a layer 9* of an osmotically acting substance, and over the latter the second electric pole which consists of a metallic ring h fitted into the ring of a wire netting n tightly stretched over the said rin h and so located that it contacts with the ayer 9 all over its surface. Thereby the electricity produced within the apparatus can be collected without loss. The diaphragm so far described is within 302151111 2' connected at one side of the diaphragm with a liquid supply is and at the opposite side with a liquid discharge Z. In the preferred form of the apparatus shown in the drawings the liquid supply is and the liquid discharge Z are so connected with each other, that the same liquid will be forced through the diaphragm in a continuous circuit, for which purpose a pump m or the like may be provided. Under certain c rcumstances it is necessary to use the same llquld in a continuous circuit, because between the liquid and the layer of the osmotic substance some kind of an equilibrium is produced which is caused by absorption andsolubility. In such cases the same potential is obtained merely, if the same liquid again, while when using a new liquid other conditions are produced. The wire nettings f and n are connected to a circuit 0 which may include a voltmeter Q having a high inner resistance, for example 23000 ohms, and a milliamperemeter ,1), which may be provided with shunt connections.

In operating the apparatus, I have discovered the following: Different osmotic substances when used under the same pressure of the liquid generate electricity of different potentials, and even the potential produced by the same substances varies in some cases according to the previous treatment of the said substances. Some subtances (electro-negative substances) cause the current to pass through the apparatus in the direction of the liquid. Substances of this property are for example sulfur, the silicic anhydrid, burnt clay, blue ultramarine, non-conductive coal, etc. Other substances (electro-positive substances) cause the current-to pass through the diaphragm in a direction opposite to that of the liquid. Substances of this property are for instance red ultramarine, and anthracite. Furthermore, I have found, that the intensity of the placed current always follows Ohms rule. That' the liquid, the thickness of the layer, and

the cross-sectional area of the same.

The conductivity of the layer 9, and therefore the intensity of the current can be 1ncreased by suitable electrolytes wlthout decreasing the electromotive force, wh ch on the contrary is increased in case of high mner resistance. On the other hand, when using impro er electrolytes, the voltage .as well as the intensity of the current are decreased, and under certain circumstances they are reduced to zero. Suitable electr0- lytes for 'electronegatlve substances are bases and for electropositive substances acids. 4 Some substances,for instance glass, porcelain, etc. split ofl" electrolytes, wh1ch in some cases afi'ect the process favorably, and 1n other cases are obnoxious. In the latter case, such substances produce a smaller potential than corresponds to their properties,

and under certain circumstances they. are electrically neutral. In some cases 1n which the electrolyte produced by the substance favorably afiects the process its concentration is so large, that the bestconditions are not obtained. The effect of the electrolytes is so-conspicuous, that the presumption appears to be justified, that the occurrenceo the currents is dependent on the presence of lOIlS.

In experiments madewith an apparatus, the layer g (as indicated in the figure) consisted of finely powdered negative coal, the thickness of said layer was 8 millimeters, and the cross-sectional area of the same was 2 square decimeters. The inner resistance was 1500 ohms in case distilled water freed from carbonic acid was used, and it was decreased by means of ammonia. Thereby the intensity of the current was increased almost to ten-times the original value, and the voltage was doubled. Therefore, the amount of energy produced under the same pressure was about twenty times the original amount produced in the apparatus without the use of ammonia. If the inner resistance is made too small, the intensity of the current remains the same, while the voltage is decreased. In another experiment, the thickness of the layer 9 was 4 millimeters, and it consisted also in this case of negative coal. The resistance was decreased by acetic acid. The intensity of the current as well as its voltage were decreased. This result explains the unfavorable results obtained in previous tests.

My experiments have shown, that the electromotive force is increased proportionally to the pressure of the liquid. It also shows,- that the intensity of the current is -proportional to the voltagein case the resistance of the layer 9 and the degree of the saturation of the liquid with the electrolyte remain constant. For example, where a layer of finely powdered quartz wasused,

cross-sectional area of 2 square decimeters, and through which water containing pyridin was fprced, the following relations were obtaine Pressure in atmospheres. Y P- Watt. Ohm.

10 4. o 0. 01 o. 04 400 0. 02 0.16 400 40 16.-' 0. 04 0, 64 400 so 31- 0. 08 2. 56 400 the process, the voltage, and the intensity of the current are increased at the same ratio. However, I have discovered, that the efif ciency is increased, if the passages through which the liquid is forced are made more fine, or if the osmotic substances are more .finely powdered. The reason for this fact seems to be that the amount of water flowing throughthe said passages under a certain pressure is decreased, while the voltage is not altered, provided that the properties of the substance, its specific conductivity, and the character of the liquid are not altered. Therefore. the efliciency, that is the value Volt. ampere Pressure X amount of liquid these two processes equivalents and it is are to be construed accordingly.

I claim: 1. The herein described process of gencrating electric currents which consists in ipressure,'the amount of water consumed in' having a thickness of 6.5 millimeters and a positive substance, respectively. I consider therefore to be understood that the claims forcing an electrolyte through a capillary substance, and collecting the electricity from said substance, using as an electrolyte a basic substance, when the capillary substance is an electronegative body.

2. The herein described process of generating electric currents, which consists in forcing the same body of electrolyte in a continuous circuit through a capillary substance and collecting theelectricity from said substance.

3. In apparatus for generating electric currents, the combination of an electrically active body having minute apertures, means to force the same liquid through said apertures in a continuous circuit, and means to collect the electricity generated in the apparat-us from said body.

4. In an apparatus for generating electric currents,-the combination with a casing, of a member in said casing having minute apertures, means for supplying an electrolyte to said casing under pressure and for forcing it through said apertures, and means for collecting the current generated.

5. In an apparatus for generating electric currents, the combination with a member having minute apertures, of means for forcing an electrolyte through said apertures, and apertured electrodes engaging said member for collecting the current generated.

6. In an apparatus for generating electric currents, the combination with a member having minute apertures, of means for forcing an electrolyte through said apertures, and electrode plates engaging the opposite faces of said member for collecting the current generated.

7. In an apparatus for generating electric currents, the combination with a casing, of a member extending across said casing and provided with minute apertures, and a pump having its inlet and discharge connected to said casing and on opposite sides of said member respectively, and means for collecting the current generated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

BOTHO SCHW ERIN. 

